Adaptations along Gradients - Session 1

Convener: Ofir Katz, Dead Sea & Arava Center

Organisms of various kinds employ many types of adaptations to aridity or aridity-related stresses, as well as to disturbances inflicted by human activity in drylands. These are often manifested as variations (e.g., phenotypic plasticity and ecotypic differentiation) along gradients. The purpose of this session is to present a broad range of such adaptations and gradients from various taxonomic groups. The session will focus on variations in discrete species and/or of specific traits, which increase organismal adaptation, tolerance and resilience to aridity or to human-made disturbances in drylands. Special emphasis is given to those variations that improve our understanding of how to mitigate the effects of climate- and human-driven changes on natural ecosystems and their biotic components, and/or adaptations that have a potential for developing a nature (desert)-based solution to environmental challenges in drylands or beyond.